The word for "Pavement" is found nowhere else in the NT, but itsHebrew equivalent occurs just once in the OT, and it is evident thatthe Holy Sprit would have us link the two passages together. In 2Kings 16:17 we read, "King Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, andremoved the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off thebrazen oxen that were under it and put it upon a "pavement" ofstones." In Ahaz's case, his act was the conclusive token of hissurrender to abject apostasy. So here of Pilate coming down to thelevel of the apostate Jews. In the former case it was a Jewish rulerdominated by a Gentile idolater; in the latter, a Gentile idolater,dominated by Jews who rejected their Messiah! AWP